6.8x51mm And GURPS

I made stats for the M7 and M250 a while ago based on the information I could find for the XM1168 round.

The list I just posted says that it can penetrate Level IV plates.

That's DR 35.

7d pi only punches 24.5 on average.  But that's a lead core ball round.  G$0.85 per round.

XM1168 has a steel core.

That'd make it an AP round and that changes the damage to 5d(2) pi-.  G$1.28 per round.

That does exactly 35 points of damage (on average) and, thus, qualifies for penetrating Level IV armor.  Damage after penetrating: 0.

Coincidentally, this is the same math that goes from .30-06 M2 Ball to M2 AP.  And M2 AP defines the NIJ Level IV standard.

XM1169 appears to be a match grade loading of XM1168.  That's a +1 to Acc.  G$2.55 per round.

XM1170 is a super-duper AP round with a tungsten instead of steel core.  That's APHC 7d(2) pi- which will penetrate an average of DR 49.  Damage after penetrating: 3.  G$1.70 per round.

XM1184 is a special purpose version of XM1170, and I don't know what the difference is.

XM1184A1 uses a DU core.  APDU, 8d+1(2) pi- inc which, on average, penetrates DR 58.  Damage after penetrating: 5.  G$2.55 per round.

XM1186 is an improved ball round.  Call it AP +P.  That's 5d+1(2) pi-, which should punch an average of DR 37.  Damage after penetrating: 1.  G$1.91 per round.

XM1188, tungsten APFSDS.  10d+2(2) pi- and a 50% boost to range (1,050/7,500).  That will go through DR 74 on average.  Damage after penetrating: 9.  G$3.40 per round.

Aeroshell SLAP is, essentially APDS.  9d(2) pi- which will go through DR 63.  Damage after penetrating: 7.  G$1.70 per round.

Fury match is the lead core ball round I originally used for the calculations with a +1 to Acc.  G$1.70

HAPI API which is AP Incendiary 5d(2) pi- inc.  Same armor performance as XM1168 with an incendiary effect.  G$1.91 per round.

SIC WC UAP.  25mm of rolled homogeneous armor is DR 18.  Not sure what they're bragging about here since the normal lead core will defeat this.  Even at 1,000m which is right at the edge of the 1/2D range.  Need more information.

NM142 HEIAP:  6.8 Raufoss!  APHEX Incendiary 7d(2) pi- inc follow-up 1d-2 cr ex.  Damage after penetrating: 3, plus 4 from the explosion in contact.  G$5.10 per round.

The real problem with all of these is the emphasis on armor penetration.  That general who was touting the lethality doesn't seem to be talking about what it does after penetrating armor.

The XM1168's 5d(2) pi- will do 8 points to an unarmored opponent.

An M4A1 firing M855A1 with 4d+2 pi+ does 24.  It won't punch DR 35, but...  G$0.50 per round.

A Vietnam era M16A1 firing M193 with 5d pi does 17.  Still doesn't penetrate Level IV...  G$0.50 per round.

A Garand firing M2 ball doing 7d+1 pi does 25.  G$0.80 per round.  M2 AP is identical to XM1168.  G$1.20 per round.

An FAL firing typical ball ammo does 7d pi and 24 to an unarmored opponent.  G$0.80 per round.

In GURPS terms, 6.8x51mm isn't very lethal compared to other rounds unless it's wearing armor.  Armor that's as good as what we wear.  Armor that covers areas 9-10, 17-18.  Both arms, both legs, the entire head and groin are outside that DR 35 level of protection.  Our helmets are a mere DR 12.  Even 'Nam era M193 can punch that! 

NOTE!  G$ translate to 2025 USD at about G$1 = US$2  Double prices in the real world.